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Tolman hints at Canterbury exit

Ian McCullough

Aiden Tolman has hinted his future may lie away from Canterbury with the off-contract prop yet to sign a new deal with the club.

The former Melbourne forward laughed off reports he'd secured a $2 million four-year deal with struggling Parramatta, but said he may have to look elsewhere if his future is not decided soon.

"I haven't heard anything about that, you guys (the media) seem to know more about it than I do," Tolman said.

"I am off (contract) this year and my manager is doing the negotiations and I am leaving it up to him.

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"But I need to go out and play the best footy I can and hopefully get the best contract."

The emergence of youngsters David Klemmer, Dale Finucane and Josh Jackson has bolstered the Bulldogs forward stocks and Sam Kasiano and James Graham are also tied down on long-term deals.

Tolman and Frank Pritchard are both unsigned for next year and although the 25-year-old Country Origin representative would prefer to remain at Belmore, he said he'd have no hesitation in switching clubs.

"Yes and no," he responded when asked if it would be hard to leave.

"I really love it here, but at the end of the day I have to look after myself and my family.

"It's a great club to be a part of but who knows what's down the track."

The Bulldogs go into Friday's game against Sydney Roosters desperately searching for only their a second win this season.

Skipper Michael Ennis said the reigning minor premiers are not panicking but the former NSW hooker said they need to do more to make Ben Barba more of a threat.

"We've not been where we want to be, in terms of how we play," Ennis said.

"It's hard for someone like Ben to be outstanding when we are not holding onto the footy, giving away cheap ball and stuck on your own line defending.

"As a team we need to be better and winning some field position for guys like Benny and Josh Reynolds to have the opportunity to win games."

Ennis is urging Bulldogs fans not to go over the top when Sonny Bill Williams runs out against his former team for the Roosters at Allianz Stadium.

In one of the most eagerly anticipated matches of the season, Williams will face the club he walked out on midway through the 2008 campaign for the first time at Allianz Stadium.

A crowd of over 30,000 is expected for the encounter and many are likely to be visiting fans keen to vent their anger towards Williams over his sudden departure to French rugby five years ago.

But Ennis is hoping there will be no unsavoury scenes.

"Personally I hope that our fans travel out there and watch a good game of footy and there's nothing silly going on," he said.